Vivek
Biography
A. Vivekanandan, known professionally as Vivek, was born on November 19, 1961, and passed away on April 17, 2021, at the age of 59. He was an Indian actor, comedian, television personality, playback singer, social activist, and entertainer who worked primarily in the Tamil film industry. Introduced to films by director K. Balachander, he acted in more than 220 films. Vivek won three Filmfare Best Comedian Tamil Awards and five Tamil Nadu State Film Awards for Best Comedian. In 2009, the Government of India awarded him the Padma Shri award for his contribution to the arts, and Sathyabama University conferred upon him an honorary doctorate.
Career overview
A. Vivekanandan, known professionally as Vivek, was an Indian film actor, comedian, television personality, playback singer, social activist, and entertainer who worked in the Tamil film industry. Introduced in films by director K. Balachander, he acted in more than 220 films over the course of his career.
Throughout his career in the Tamil film industry, Vivek received numerous accolades for his performances. He won three Filmfare Best Comedian Tamil Awards for his work in movies such as Run, Saamy, and Perazhagan. Additionally, he earned five Tamil Nadu State Film Awards for Best Comedian for his roles in Unnaruge Naan Irundhal, Run, Parthiban Kanavu, Anniyan, and Sivaji.
In recognition of his contributions to the arts, the Government of India awarded Vivek the Padma Shri award in 2009. Furthermore, Sathyabama University conferred upon him an honorary doctorate for his contributions. Born on November 19, 1961, Vivek passed away on April 17, 2021, at the age of 59.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
221 titles- Indian 2: Zero Tolerance (2024) as Elango
- Yaadhum Oore Yaavarum Kelir (2023) as Father Xavier
- The Legend (2022) as Thangam
- Aranmanai 3 (2021) as Sigamani
- Dharala Prabhu (2020) as Kannadasan
- Bigil (2019) as Nessi
- Viswasam (2019) as Kesavan
- Vellai Pookal (2019) as DIG Rudhran Ganesan
- Ezhumin (2018) as Vishwanathan
- Mupparimanam (2017) as Self
- Muthuramalingam (2017)
- Velaiyilla Pattathari 2 (2017) as Azhagu Sundaram
- Meesaya Murukku (2017) as Ramachandran
- Sakka Podu Podu Raja (2017) as Delhi
- Brindavanam (2017) as Himself
- Rum (2017) as Raj
- Machan (2016) as Animal Arasu
- Oopiri (2016) as Lawyer Lingam
- Kaashmora (2016) as Kaashmora's Father
- Manithan (2016) as Surya
- Padam Pesum (2016)
- Vai Raja Vai (2015) as Pandian (Panda)
- Yennai Arindhaal (2015) as 'Revolver' Richard
- Killadi (2015) as Arnold
- Budhanin Sirippu (2015)
- Sakalakala Vallavan (2015) as Vettaiyan/Pasupathy (Guest Appearance)
- Palakkattu Madhavan (2015)
- Chandra (2014) as Yuvaraj Sukumar
- Ninaithathu Yaaro (2014) as Self
- Velaiyilla Pattathari (2014) as Azhagusundaram
- Naan Than Bala (2014) as Bala
- Vingyani (2014)
- Pathaayiram Kodi (2013)
- Singam 2 (2013) as Erimalai
- Murattu Kaalai (2012) as Saroja
- Vedi (2011) as Varun Sandhesh
- Mappillai (2011) as Child Chinna / James Pandiyan / Youth
- Seedan (2011) as Gumbidi Samy
- Bhavani IPS (2011) as Ghirivalam
- Thambikku Indha Ooru (2010) as 'Cola' Kumar
- Singam (2010) as Erimalai
- Uthama Puthiran (2010) as 'Emotional' Ekambaram
- Sivappu Mazhai (2010)
- Vaada (2010) as Annamalai
- Magane En Marumagane (2010) as Singapetti Sringaram
- Pen Singam (2010) as Thirupathi
- Bale Pandiya (2010) as London
- Ainthaam Padai (2009) as Thanthoni
- Pattasu (2009)
- Padikathavan (2009) as Assault Arumugam
- Perumal (2009) as Idithangi
- Guru En Aalu (2009) as Azhagappan
- Thee (2009) as Rajesh
- 1977 (2009)
- Anthony Yaar? (2009) as Kingfisher
- Indira Vizha (2009)
- Ayutham Seivom (2008)
- Singakutty (2008)
- Kuruvi (2008) as Ops
- Durai (2008)
- Dhanam (2008)
- Bommalattam (2008) as Madurai
- Jayam Kondaan (2008) as Gopal
- Sandai (2008) as Mani / Nattamai
- Thoondil (2008) as Mac
- Veerappu (2007)
- Agaram (2007) as Thiru's Friend
- Sivaji: The Boss (2007) as Arivu
- Urchagam (2007) as Ayyanarkudi Raja
- Aalwar (2007) as Pons
- Kireedam (2007) as Shaktivel's Brother-in-Law
- Thullal (2007)
- Pasupathi c/o Rasakkapalayam (2007) as Daas
- Madhu (2006) as Madhan
- Paramasivan (2006) as Agniputra
- Thiruttu Payale (2006) as Manohar
- Saravana (2006) as V C Damodaran (VCD)
- Aathi (2006) as Bullet
- Kalvanin Kadhali (2006) as Sathya's friend
- Jambhavan (2006)
- Madrasi (2006) as Pandi
- Anniyan (2005) as Chari Singari
- Vanakkam Thalaiva (2005) as SI aruchamy
- Kana Kanden (2005) as Sivaramakrishnan
- Thaka Thimi Tha (2005)
- Perazhagan (2004) as Kuzhandhai
- Udhaya (2004) as Bashir
- Aethiree (2004) as 'Auto' Sampath
- M. Kumaran S/O Mahalakshmi (2004) as Ganesan
- Arasatchi (2004) as Prakash
- Chellamae (2004) as Harichandra
- Boys (2003) as Mangalam
- Alai (2003)
- Lesa Lesa (2003) as Chandru
- Pop Carn (2003)
- Whistle (2003) as Sahadevan
- Dhool (2003) as Narayana Swamy
- Ice (2003)
- Saamy (2003) as Venkataraman Iyer
- Joot (2003) as Siva
- Enakku 20 Unakku 18 (2003) as Kapil (Tamil version)
- Thennavan (2003) as Mani
- Thirumalai (2003) as Ezhumalai
- Thithikudhe (2003) as Punch “Bala”
- Anbe Anbe (2003)
- Kadhal Sadugudu (2003) as 'Super' Subbu
- Parthibhan Kanavu (2003) as Mano
- Three Roses (2003) as Shankar
- Shakalaka Baby (2002)
- Yey! Nee Romba Azhaga Irukke (2002)
- Thamizhan (2002) as Nandakumar
- University (2002) as Althotta Bupathi
- Devan (2002) as Saravanan
- Azhagi (2002)
- Thenkasi Pattanam (2002)
- Youth (2002) as Kandhasamy
- Run (2002) as Shiva's Friend
- Namma Veetu Kalyanam (2002)
- Roja Koottam (2002) as Auto Arumugam
- Kadhal Virus (2002)
- Vivaramana Aalu (2002) as Suitcase Subbu
- Paarthale Paravasam (2001) as Dr. Putham
- Badri (2001)
- Shahjahan (2001) as Boopathi
- Minnale (2001) as Chockalingam
- Middle Class Madhavan (2001) as Manimaran
- Looty (2001) as Thiruttu VcD
- Kutty (2001) as Owner of provision store
- Dum Dum Dum (2001) as Jim
- Dhill (2001) as Megaserial Mahadevan
- Poovellam Un Vasam (2001)
- 12 B (2001) as Madhan
- Manadhai Thirudivittai (2001) as Valaiyapathi
- Kottai Mariamman (2001)
- Viswanathan Ramamoorthy (2001) as Ramamoorthy
- Ullam Kollai Poguthey (2001) as Arivu
- Alli Thandha Vaanam (2001) as Tamil Kirukkan
- Lovely (2001)
- Majunu (2001) as Mano
- Engalukkum Kaalam Varum (2001) as Santosh
- Super Kudumbam (2001) as Hari
- Nageswari (2001) as Junior Aatha
- Kanna Unnai Thedukiren (2001)
- Doubles (2000) as Vivek
- Priyamaanavale (2000) as Chandru
- Sandhitha Velai (2000)
- Kushi (2000) as Vicky
- Thirunelveli (2000)
- Eazhaiyin Sirippil (2000) as Arasu
- Thai Porandaachu (2000)
- Budget Padmanabhan (2000) as Krishnan
- Pennin Manathai Thottu (2000)
- Sudhandhiram (2000) as Surf Raj
- Alaipayuthey (2000) as Sethu
- Koodi Vazhnthal Kodi Nanmai (2000) as Dhandapani
- Kandha Kadamba Kathir Vela (2000) as Kathirvela
- Mugavari (2000) as Ramesh
- Palayathu Amman (2000) as Kalyanaraman
- Good Luck (2000)
- Unnai Kann Theduthey (2000)
- Seenu (2000)
- Karisakattu Poove (2000) as Veeramani
- Vaali (1999) as Vicky
- Unakkaga Ellam Unakkaga (1999) as Madhi
- Mugam (1999)
- Thirupathi Ezhumalai Venkatesa (1999)
- Ninaivirukkum Varai (1999) as Vinod
- Unnaruge Naan Irundhal (1999)
- Viralukketha Veekkam (1999) as Ramanathan
- Poomagal Oorvalam (1999) as Sakthi
- Unnai Thedi (1999) as Vivek
- Aasaiyil Oru Kaditham (1999)
- Oruvan (1999)
- Marumalarchi (1998) as Nagaraj
- Kaadhale Nimmadhi (1998) as Panchu
- Unnudan (1998)
- Naam Iruvar Namakku Iruvar (1998) as Valayapathi / Police inspector
- Kadhal Mannan (1998) as Oyya
- Bada Din (1998)
- Kannedhirey Thondrinal (1998)
- Harichandra (1998) as Gopal
- Sollamale (1998) as Wilson
- Dhinamum Ennai Gavani (1997) as Inspector Balram
- Kaalamellam Kadhal Vaazhga (1997)
- Nerrukku Ner (1997) as Ravi
- Sishya (1997)
- Pongalo Pongal (1997) as Pazhanisamy
- Pagaivan (1997)
- Minor Mappillai (1996) as Kicha
- Subash (1996) as Subash's Friend
- Enakkoru Magan Pirappan (1996) as Raja
- Thaayagam (1996) as Hostage
- Gandhi Pirantha Mann (1995) as Cook
- Mogamul (1995)
- Mayabazar (1995) as Kuppu
- Thottil Kuzhandhai (1995)
- Nandhavana Theru (1995)
- Namma Annachi (1994)
- Vanaja Girija (1994) as Appu
- Veera (1994) as Chinnamani
- Athaanda Ithaanda (1994)
- Pudhiya Mannargal (1994) as Araitchi Ariandndham, Ex-Finance minister
- Vaa Magale Vaa (1994)
- Pattukottai Periyappa (1994)
- Vaanga Partner Vaanga (1994) as Koteeswaran
- Pass Mark (1993)
- Naan Pesa Ninaipathellam (1993) as Govind
- Uzhaippali (1993) as Tamilarasan's Friend
- Enga Muthalali (1993) as Panduranga Bambara Pandu
- Kalikaalam (1992) as Krishnamoorthy's son
- Urimai Oonjaladugiradhu (1992) as Narayanan
- Innisai Mazhai (1992)
- Kizhakku Veedhi (1992)
- Thambi Pondatti (1992) as Mani
- Sendhoora Devi (1991) as Gopal
- Idhaya Vasal (1991)
- Putham Pudhu Payanam (1991)
- Jenma Natchathiram (1991)
- Pudhu Pudhu Arthangal (1989) as Vittal Manibharathi's Personal Assistant
- Manathil Uruthi Vendum (1987)
- Indian 3: War Mode as Elango
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Vivek best known for?
Vivek is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Aranmanai 3 (2021), Meesaya Murukku (2017), Sakalakala Vallavan (2015), Professor T. (2017).
When and where was Vivek born?
Vivek was born on November 19, 1961 in Kovilpatti, Thoothukudi District, Tamil Nadu, India. They passed away on April 17, 2021.
How many credits does Vivek have?
Vivek has accumulated over 221 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1987 to 2024.
What is Vivek's background in cinema and television?
A. Vivekanandan, known professionally as Vivek, was born on November 19, 1961, and passed away on April 17, 2021, at the age of 59. He was an Indian actor, comedian, television personality, playback singer, social activist, and entertainer who worked primarily in the Tamil film industry. Introduced to films by director...
Vivek by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Yey! Nee Romba Azhaga Irukke (2002) — aged about 40
- Shahjahan (2001) as Boopathi — aged about 39
- Sivaji: The Boss (2007) as Arivu — aged about 45
- Kushi (2000) as Vicky — aged about 38
- Vaali (1999) as Vicky — aged about 37
- Manathil Uruthi Vendum (1987) — aged about 25
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